Detachable tray and tray holder



June 1, 1965 H. c. OLSON DETACHABLE TRAY AND TRAY HOLDER 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed April 22. 1964 llll'lilllllfllll.

June 1, 1965 H. c. OLSON 3,186,673

DETACHABLE TRAY AND TRAY HOLDER Filed April 22, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HAROLD C. OLSON A 7' TORNE Y8 United States Patent 3,186,673 DETACHAELE TRAY AND TRAY HOLDER Harold C, Olson, 2105 Croydon Drive, Tallahassee, Fla. Filed Apr. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 361,852 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-226) This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Serial No. 152,289, filed November 14, 1961.

This invention relates to detachable trays and tray holders and more particularly to a tray holder for releasably attaching such holder to the arm of a chair or the like and for releasably attaching a tray thereto.

.A general object of this invention is to provide an improved tray holder.

A particular object of the invention is the provision of a tray holder having improved spring means which releasably engages an arm of a chair or the like.

Another particular object of this invention is to provide a tray holder having magnetic meansv which releasably attaches a tray thereto for support on an arm of a chair or the like wherein the tray may be quickly released from the tray holder prior to removal of such tray holder from such arm.

A further particular object is the provision of a tray holder for forcibly. engaging and accommodating various sizes and contours of arms of chairs or the like, wherein the force exerted on the arm of the chairis substantially constant regardless of the size and contours of such arms, thereby minimizing damage thereto while uniformly attaching and maintaining the tray holder with respect to such arms.

An additional particular object is to provide an im proved tray holder wherein the inclination of the tray holder may be adjusted to level the tray held thereby.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved tray holder which may be easily positioned on and removed from the arms of chairs, sofas, and the like, without damage thereto, and which maintains a tray stable and level even when such tray holder is applied to slanted or curved arms.

Another specific object is the provision of .an improved tray holder simple and economical in construction, and eflicient and durable in use.

My invention is an object supporting device or platform, detachable from a negative scroll spring, equipped with magnets, which will support all metal trays that adhere to magnets; It Will also support trays of wood, plastic, and other materials when made with inserts of metal discs or plates which will be attracted by the magnets fitted in the supporting holder, which trays have been designed by me.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the use of trays by the hostess, handicapped persons, and everyone in general. This tray support or platform will eliminate the need of floor space, such as is used by various tray tables, and inasmuch as my tray and holder or platform are detachable rather than made in one unit, trays are more easily washed and stored. As all metal trays which adhere to magnets will fit on this base, it is possible to use manysuch trays that are already in the home, lending itself to economy as well as convenience. The tray placed on this base can also be placed in various positions, to best suit the person making use of same.

The frame or platform is composed of two crossed wood strips or other-material, which can also be made in ice or clamp under the platform, and then placing the platform over the arm of a chair or sofa. The spring is fitted with rubber or other adhesive strips to protect the furniture fabric and hold the platform on the chair more securely. All metal trays that will adhere to magnets will fit on this platform. My design of trays of Wood, plastic, and other materials will also fit on the above mentioned platform when equipped with metal inserted discs in proper position which will adhere to magnets v and will fit securely on the platform. These trays could come with the tray holder as a unit'or sold separately.

Trays can be adjusted in position on magnets to be used as a study or writing table as well as for food. They are especially useful in small rooms, patios, porches, for large groups, for use While viewing TV; and very convenient and useful for convalescents and handicapped persons. A person having only partial use of hand due to arthritis or other affliction, can clamp the spring on his or her forearm, and serve himself very easily. The combination tray and holder can be used very conveniently for study or correspondence by inverting tray and placing in most convenient position.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended'claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the tray holder, applied to the arm of a chair or the'like, and a tray in accordance with the invention, the tray holder being shown by broken lines;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the tray holder of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the tray holder grippingly engaging the opposite sides of the arm of a chair or the like;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the tray holder;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the tray holder;

FIGURE 6 is a side sectional view of the tray holder showing the attachment of the spring portion thereof;

FIGURE 7 is an exploded detail perspective view of a portion of the spring and its attachment;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the tray holder of FIGURE 1;

different shapes and sizes, with magnets inserted at each of four ends or other positions, and with a rubber strip 7 FIGURE 9 is a plan view of another embodiment of the tray holder in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a front elevational View of the tray. holder of FIGURE 9, partly in section; V

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view take along line 11 -11 of FIGURE 9;

, FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of the tray holder of FIGURE 9, applied to the rearwardly slanted arm of a chair or the like; and r FIGURE 13 is a front elevational view of the tray holder of FIGURE 9, applied to the inwardly slanted arm of a chair or the like.

Following the drawing in detail by the numbering of parts, starting with FIGURE 1, which shows a tray and a tray holder ready for use, numeral 1 designates the arm of a chair on which the spring attached to the platform is clamped. This horizontally disposed platform or base can be fitted on the arm of chairs and sofas of various beauty of the tray; These trays would be made special numeral 20 generally designating the tray holder.

and sold separately or with the tray holder, as manyusers would prefer to make use of metal trays already in home with the tray holder herein. The tray holder and clamp assembly 3 are'shown with tray 2 resting on top of the tray holder, and magnets are inserted into the ends of cross strips 4 on which the tray'2 rests.

In FIGURE 2, we find that the front elevation of tray holder, is shown, giving a view of magnetic discs 8 attached to the crossed wood strips or other material 4, which strips support a spring adaptor 6 orclevice into which the negative scroll spring 5, also known as double coil spring, fits. The spring. has rubber or other'adhesive protector 9 which acts as a protection to furniture fabrics, and also aids in holding tray more securely.

In FIGURE 3, we find the same view as FIGURE 2, except it is shown clamped to the arm of .a' chair 1, and also shown is the manner in which the rubber comes in contact with, and protects the fabric of the chair 1. 7

FIGURE 4 gives the bottom view of the tray holder, and illustrates how the rubber grips 7 attached to the bottom of the platform or tray support member 14, keep same from slipping. It shows clevice 6 into which spring 5 will fit.

In FIGURE 5 we have a top view of tray holder 3 showing the four magnets 8 on which the tray rests when in use, and a rubber or other adhesive material 7 in'the center of and beneath the support member secures the tray and support member combination more fully to the arm of chair 1. It also shows part of clevice6 into which a coil spring 5 fits securely. When crossed wood strips or ties 4 are used, these are morticed at the center tomake the base 14 smooth. The platform or base 14 can also be made of plastic and some metals and can be made in various shapes and sizes.

FIGURE 6 shows us the side view of the tray holder and how a double coil spring 5 is fastened to the platform 14 by means of a clevice or clamp 6 and the rubber 7 is fastened to the strips 4 for added security, and the magnets 8 are shown at each end on which tray is placed.

Following through to FIGURE 7, we see thebottorn of crossties 4 on which in the center crossing is a spring adaptor orclevice 6 fastened securely to strips 4 within notch 10 for the purpose of holding the. negative scroll spring 5, which in turn fits to the arm ofchair or sofa, The clevice or clamp 6 to hold the spring has rubber 7 attached to keep the platform secure.

In FIGURE 8, the holder and clamp assembly 3 shows platform 14 in which magnets 8' are attached at each end,

' gether with their attachments will be identical. ;Magnet 32 is preferably of the common ceramic type and is in the shape of a disc, although other shapes may be employed. Magnet 32 is affixed within a stainless steel open-ended housing 36, as by any of various forms of glue or cement, and the upper open end 37 is seen to extend upwardly above the upper surface 33 of magnet 32 thereby protecting same'from abrasion and the like. The bottom 39 of housing 3-6 isafiixed by cement or the like to the bottom wall 40 of a stepped cavity 41 extending downwardly into arm 26. Friction means in the form of a rubber O ring 42 surroundshousing 36 adjacent its upper open end 37 and extends thereabove to inhibit slippage of tray 31 when magnet 32 and housing 36 releasably attach tray 31 to tray holder 20.. O ring 42 is frictionally maintained in position between upstanding wall 43 of housing 36 and depending wall 44 which constitutes a portion of stepped cavity 41, O ring 42. being based on step45 extending from wall 44 and terminating adjacent wall 43 of housing 36.

In general alignment with stepped cavity 41 is an upwardly extending cavity within arm 26 for the reception thereinto of a selective leveling member, shown in FIGURE 12 by leveling member 51, and in respective FIGURES l2 and 13 by diiferent sizes of leveling members 52 and 53. Below each of the magnets 33, 34 and 35,-a similar upwardly extending cavity is provided in respective arms 27, 23 and 29 whereby one or more leveling members may be selectively provided for maintaining tray 31 in a horizontal position, as will be more clearly understood and explained hereinafter in connection with FIGURES 12 and 13.

A plurality of ribs 55 extend downwardly from the lower surface 23 of support member. 21 for. providing strength and rigidity thereto, support member 21 herein shown to be preferably'r'nanufactured from plastic suitably cast or molded in the configuration depicted herein.

'A channel cavityor slot, generally designated at 56, is formed beneath body 25 of support member 21, slot 56 being constituted by depending ribs 57 and 58 and the on which tray 2 can be placed. The negative scroll or coil springs 5 are shown inserted in clevice .6, making support 14 ready to place on a chair or sofa'arm, and with tray placed thereon, the invention'is ready for use.

The manner of using my tray platform 14 is simple. The magnetized tray holder" with its clevice-or clamp'6 fitted adjacent the support member lower surface lfimakes it simple to fit the double coil or negative scroll spring 5 'into same, and'the double coil spring 5 defines a generally vertical space 17 which is then ready to receive and releasably engage the arm of a chair or sofa, on which many metal and all trays made for its use will adhere to magents 8 which are attached to the support member arcuate upper portion 59 extending therebetween. The arcuate upper portion 56 is constituted from a plurality of depending ribs 60, extending parallel to ribs 57 and 58, and a plurality of cross ribs 61 extending between ribs 57 and 58, cross ribs 61 also being connected to ribs spring 65 includes a central portion 6-6 and depending coils 67 and 68 defining therebetween a generally vertical adjacent its upper surface 16. A rubber piece 7 placed in center of top of support gives added adherence, and prevents shifting or sliding. The negative scroll spring is also equipped with rubber or other adhesive 9 to prevent any scratching or marring of furniture. 'After' use, the trays can be lifted off, washed, and stored-easily.

Referring now more particularly. to FIGURES 9 and 10, another embodimentof the invention is depicted, the Tray holder 20 includes a horizontally disposed support member 21 having an upper surface 22 and a lower surface 23.

The body portion 25 of support member 21 is illustrated in plan'as being circular with spaced radial arms 26, 27, p

. 28 and 2% extending outwardly therefrom along mutually 69 thereby providing a rigid arcuate upper portion 59 for connecting spring 65 thereto, as explained more fully hereinbelow. '1 V The spring means in the form of a double coil or scroll space, designated'69, when coils 67 and 68 are forcibly spread apart, for the reception thereinto. of various sizes and contours of generally vertical arms of chairs or the 'the holder 20 to fabric covered arms of upholstered chairsj a The central portion 66 is in juxtaposition with arcuate upper portion 56, in proximity of the attachment area 72 thereof. An attachment means in the form of a'bolt 73 passes through an opening (not shown) in spring central portion 66, through an aligned opening (not shown) in the attachment area 72 of upper portion 56 and threaded into a nut 74, nut 74 being countersunk at 75 within body portion 25 of support member 21 below the upper surface 22. With the spring 65 firmly secured to support member 21, the side edges of the spring 65 are respectively adjacent ribs 57 and 58 which confine the spring 65 to prevent the spring from being angularly or rotatably moved with respect to support member 21. As shown in FIGURE 10, the coils 67 and 68 may be spread apart in the horizontal direction that is substantially parallel with the ribs 57 and 58, but the spring 65 may not be rotated thus providing a tray holder which is rigid and less susceptible of accidental displacements due to external forces during its use.

The body portion is recessed as at 76 to make certain that the bolt 73 and/or nut 74 do not extend above the upper surface 22 or above the contact areas of the magnetic means with the tray 31, which would otherwise interfere with the attachment between the tray holder 20 and tray 31.

With reference to FIGURES 10, 12 and 13, the manner of attaching the tray holder 20 to the arm of a chair or the like becomes apparent. If the tray holder 3 or 20 were attached to a substantially flat or level arm of a chair, the tray holder and tray would be level as depicted in FIGURE 1. When the arm 77 of a chair slants rearwardly as shown in FIGURE 12, a selective leveling member 52 is inserted within a cavity, identical to cavity 50, in support member 21 below magnet 33 for leveling tray holder 20. Leveling member 52 liftingly supports tray holder 20 rearwardly at 78 on the slanted top 79 of arm 77, and the tray holder 20 is forwardly supported at 80 by a bottom portion 81 of support member 21 below magnet 35.

When the tray holder 20 is attached to an inwardly slanting arm 85 of a chair 86, a selective leveling and stabilizing member 53 of appropriate height is inserted into cavity 50 thereby urging the arm 26 upwardly to partially compensate for the inwardly slanted top 87 of arm 85. As shown in FIGURE 13, leveling member 53 is supported on a portion 88 of spring 65 adjacent the coil 67. The springing movement of the entire tray holder 20 may be stabilized by the use of leveling and stabilizing member 51 supported on a portion 89 of spring 65 adjacent coil 68 together with member 53 described above. As shown in FIGURE 13, the support member 21 is connected to spring 65 by the attachment means 73 and is supported by leveling and stabilizing members 51 and 53 resting on spring 65, thus providing a stable tray holder 20 on which tray 31 is releasably attachable. In marketing the tray holder 20, a plurality of leveling members 51, 52 and 53 of various heights are provided in order that the user of the holder may select and dispose the appropriate leveling member within a cavity beneath a particular arm to adjustably level the holder on the slanted or curved arms to which the holder is applied.

While only certain preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described by way of illustration, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, desired that it be understood that it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A tray holder comprising a tray support member having a body portion and spaced arms extending outwardly therefrom, a magnet attached to each of said arms for releasably attaching a tray to said support member wherein the tray includes magnetic material adapted and arranged to cooperate and be attracted by each said magnet, a double scroll spring, said body portion having a slot constituted by a pair of downwardly extending walls and a top wall, said spring having an intermediate portion between its scrolls, said intermediate portion being fittingly disposed within said slot with the side edges of said spring intermediate portion being adjacent respective said downwardly extending walls, means for attaching said intermediate portion beneath and to said top wall, said spring being adapted and arranged to releasably engage between said scrolls various sizes of arms of chairs or the like.

2. A tray holder comprising a horizontally disposed tray support member having an upper surface and a lower surface, means attached to said support member for readily releasably attaching a tray thereto, spring means attached to said support member adjacent said lower surface and extending therebelow, said spring means defining a generally vertical space for the reception thereinto of and releasable engagement with various sizes of generally vertical arms of chairs or the like, selective leveling members attachable to said support member and extending below said lower surface for adjustably leveling said support member on a generally vertical arm to which the tray holder is applied.

3. A tray holder comprising a tray support member having a body portion and at least three spaced arms extending outwardly therefrom, a magnet attached to each of said arms for releasably attaching a tray thereto wherein the tray includes magnetic material adapted and arranged to cooperate and be attracted by each said magnet, said body portion having a slot therebeneath extending upwardly thereinto, said slot being constituted by a top wall and depending parallel side walls, spring means disposed within said slot and attached to said top Wall, said spring means being expansible in a direction substantially parallel to said side walls, said side walls substantially confining said spring means from lateral movement with respect to the direction of expansion thereof, said spring means when expanded defining a generally vertical space for the reception thereinto of and releasable engagement with various sizes of generally vertical arms of chairs or the like.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 958,570 5/10 Watson 24257 1,537,039 5/25 Short 88-98 2,076,941 4/37 Farr 211-43 2,346,582 4/44 Insler 317-163 2,43 6,607 2/ 48 Rosenthal 224--5 2,506,400 5 5 0 Wietz 248206 2,867,401 1/ 59 Sheahan 248--226 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,119,019 3/56 France.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner. 

2. A TRAY HOLDER COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED TRAY SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE AND A LOWER SURFACE, MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR READILY RELEASABLY ATTACHING A TRAY THERETO, SPRING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER ADJACENT SAID LOWER SURFACE AND EXTENDING THEREBELOW, SAID SPRING MEANS DEFINING A GENERALLY VERTICAL SPACE FOR THE RECEPTION THEREINTO OF AND RELEASABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH VARIOUS SIZES OF GENERALLY VERTICAL ARMS OF CHAIRS OR THE LIKE, SELECTIVE LEVELING MEMBERS ATTACHABLE TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND EXTENDING BELOW SAID LOWER SURFACE FOR ADJUSTABLY LEVELING SAID SUPPORT MEMBER ON A GENERALLY VERTICAL ARM TO WHICH THE TRAY HOLDER IS APPLIED. 